Major domestic Cricket overhaul
The word ‘revamp’ has been regularly used by the SLC hierarchy in recent times. But can they implement it at some point is the biggest question - File pic
Sri Lanka Cricket will revive the aborted Provincial Cricket Tournament in place of the Zonal Cricket Tournament which was drawn-up by the Sidath Wettimuny-led interim administration.
This was revealed by the incumbent Sri Lanka Cricket President Thilanga Sumathipala who says that they are aiming to infuse a new culture and a way of thinking to the entire cricket structure in the country.
According to Sumathipala, the administration intends to bring the changes from the age group of 15 onwards with the accent mainly on District and Provincial systems and the pinnacle would be the Provincial Cricket Tournament involving five provinces. He is of the view that through this structure they will be able to bridge the gap between International cricket and the domestic cricket. He also added that in spite of all these changes the existing Club cricket tournament would continue unhindered.
Sumathipala explained, “SLC conducts the highest number of tournaments in the whole world; so we have to take some serious policy decisions. We have to look at the quality and the quantity and then we have to find out ways of bringing in values to the tournaments while giving priority to our club system. The club system is very important and therefore we have to find a way of accomplishing that task.”
The SLC chief said they have a blueprint running. Initially they indent embarking with the under 15 and 19 district and inter-provincial tournament which will be followed by the under 21 inter-provincial tournament. Soon after that, the club under 23 tournament will start. He said especially the under 21 tournament was introduced to cushion the gap between school leaving age of under 19 and the under 23 club cricket level. He was of the view that this gap of about three years leads to cricketers leaving the game or losing their way for the lack of proper guidance. They also are looking at creating a national pool of under 17 and work for four to seven weeks.
He said, “We are looking for tours of that age group — under 15 and under 19. We also have agreed in principal to have an under 19 championship. This means they would face a good tournament on an annual basis.”
The tournaments will not be limited overs. The district matches will be of two day or three day duration. The selection will be initially done by the Provincial selectors and national selectors will take over thereafter. The structure involves all twenty two districts. For example the Southern Province will have three teams – Galle, Matara and Hambantota. Because of the population density, the Western Province will be regarded as two provinces with six teams. He said, “We are still in the process of deciding how many games there would be — home and away or otherwise. Soon after, we will embark on the Provincial tournament – the provinces will be five or six. This is at the age group level.” But he added this tournament will not be played this year, because already the school cricketers have had a gruelling season so far. Vice President S. Mathivanan is in charge of the mechanisms in this project as he is in charge of domestic cricket.
However, the SLC President said the real first class tournament will be the Provincial tournament, where they are hoping to take the game into the real competitive level. “This is the way forward. At the moment, we are looking at five teams. Western, Southern, Central, North Central and the fifth will be the Uva Province which will be amalgamated with the Hambantota District. Besides, every Provincial side will be affiliated with a national venue.”
He said that there would be no connection between the Provincial teams and club cricket. Club cricket will be played independently. Then where the players are concerned there will be criteria such as the place of birth, the place of work, the school, etc. The players will be identified under those criteria and not the club they belong to. Players will be selected according to their geographical identity.
Sumathipala said “One they are identified and selected, they cannot change. Then in a few years’ time it will develop int an established system. This will be done from the junior stage. The provincial cricketers will have to stick to their bases. But they can play for any club they opt to. We are working on a provincial identity like the counties in England. Then they will automatically develop ownership. By May we are hoping to finalise the principle and then we will have a two-day workshop. Now we are seeking the help of professionals in this process. Then we want to go in for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) and then the general membership will have to approve these proposals. These proposals will have a lifespan for at least four years. If not with every regime change, the tournament structure will also change. Only with continuity we can gauge the value of these changes.”